Film processing apparatus



6, 1969 s. M. KNIBIEHLY FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed July 26. 1966FIG.4

INVENTOR. EARLE M. KNIBIEHLY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,463,073FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS Earle M. Knibiehly, Annandale, Va., assignorto Logetronics, Inc, Alexandria, Va., a corporation of Delaware FiledJuly 26, 1966, Ser. No. 567,890 Int. Cl. G03d 3/12 US. C]. 95-94 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A photographic film processing apparatushaving a frame defining a path of film movement, a pair of film engagingrollers journaled in the frame, a tube containing discharge portsinterposed between the rollers, and a grille arrangement for directingthe spray of processing fluid from the tube onto the rollers. The tubeis interposed between the rollers substantially parallel to the axes ofthe rollers, and the discharge ports of the tube are arranged on axesparallel to the path of film movement and at an acute angle ofinclination relative to the rollers. The grilles are interposed betweenthe spray tube and the path of film movement to prevent the spray of thetube from coming into direct contact with the film being processedwhereby the rollers effect an indirect transfer of the fluid from thespray tube to the film.

This invention relates to film processing apparatus of the typeparticularly useful in the development of photographic film.

It has been conventional in the past to immerse photographic film in thevarious treating liquids used in the development process by the use ofpositively driven belts and rollers. Application of the treating fluidshas also been achieved by spraying the treating fluids onto the filmundergoing treatment. These prior practices have involved disadvantagessuch as streaking of the film, accumulation of foreignmatter on themoving parts and failure to provide suflicient turbulence to assureuniformity of the treatment.

In accordance with the present invention, these disadvantages have beenavoided so that there is no danger of streaking, by-products such asbromides are removed, circulation of the fluids is achieved, and by thereduction of bromide drag, directional developer effects and adjacencydefects, as some of the difliculties are variously known, a more uniformprocessing results.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a spray rackfor photographic film processing apparatus comprising a frame, a pair offilm engaging rollers journalled in the frame and having substantiallyparallel axes, a tube interposed between the rollers substantiallyparallel to the axes for delivering processing fluid to the rollers, thetube containing discharge ports having axes intersecting the rollers andinclined at acute angles relative to the roller axes. It is contemplatedthat there be multiple pairs of film engaging rollers journalled in theframe with axes lying substantially in a plane, a tube interposedbetween each pair of such rollers substantially parallel to the axes fordelivering processing fluid to the rollers, and each of the tubescontaining discharge ports having axes intersecting rollers adjacentthereto and inclined at acute angles relative to the roller axes.

The acute angles are preferably between 30 and 60 and an angle of 45 hasbeen found to produce highly desirable results. The tube or tubescontain discharge ports directed towards each adjacent rollerrespectively, so that the treating fluid will impinge upon the rollersrather than directly on the film undergoing treatment. The tubedischarge ports may have their axes parallel for improvement 3,463,073Patented Aug. 26, 1969 of the flow characteristics. It is contemplatedthat grille means be carried by the frame between the rollers andadjacent the tube for directing processing fluid from the tube to therollers from which it will be applied to the film undergoing treatment.The tube or tubes communicate with a header from which the treatingfluid is supplied. A polarizing joint is provided between the header andeach tube to assure proper orientation of the discharge ports so thatthe treating fluid will impinge on the adjacent rollers and assureproper distribution of the fluid for the achievement of optimum results.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow from adescription of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partially in section depicting a roller sprayrack sandwiched between a pair of belt racks within a housing;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, partially in section of the roller rack of FIG.1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 on a further enlargedscale;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 on a still furtherenlarged scale; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation depicting a polarized joint between aheader and spray tube, according to the invention.

The housing 10 of FIG. 1, suitably supports, in a manner not shown, apair of belt racks 12 between which a roller rack 14 is sandwiched. Thebelts 16 are driven by their respective pulleys 18 respectively, in thedirection indicated by the arrows 20 and 22. The belts are biasedtowards the rollers 24 by means of spring pressed frames 26 so that whenfilm is introduced between the lefthand roller frame 12 of FIG. 1 andthe roller frame 14, it will advance in the direction of the arrow 20downwardly, until it reaches a guide member which directs the filmupwardly between the roller frame 14 and the righthand belt frame 12 inthe direction of the arrow 22, so that the film will remain infrictional relationship with the belts and rollers to assure itsmovement through the housing or container 10. The lefthand strut 28 ofthe frame member '14 as depicted in FIG. 2, is of channel-likeconfiguration and receives between its flanges a header 30 having afluid inlet connection 32. The header 30 communicates with three tubes34, as depicted in FIG. 2 in a manner depicted in greater detail in FIG.5. The communication between the header 30 and each of the three tubes34 is effected through a nipple 36 having one end brazed or otherwisesuitably joined to the header and the other end formed with a notch 38to receive a complementary notched end 40 of the tube 34, whereby thetube 34 will always be polarized so that its discharge ports 42 willalways be properly oriented with respect to the rollers 24 so that thefluid passing through the ports 42 will always impinge on the adjacentrollers.

Each tube 34 is coupled to its respective nipple 36 by means of aflexible, fluid tight sleeve 44 composed of a suitable plastic orelastomeric material that will withstand exposure to the fluids used. Aswill be noted from FIGS. 4 and 5, the discharge ports 42 have axes thatare parallel and form FIG. 3 it will be evident that these axes aredirected towards the rollers 24. Thus, fluid supplied to the header 30will enter the tubes 34 and be discharged through the ports 42 againstthe rollers 24 as distinguished from impinging directly upon the filmundergoing treatment. Inasmuch as the fluid will be discharged throughthe upper ports 42 of the tube 34 towards the right and through thelower ports 42 towards the left, there will be a cleaning action and acirculation in such a fashion as to reduce the danger of theaccumulation of foreign material.

On either side of each tube 34 and between the rollers 24, directingmeans in the form of grilles 46 are provided, reinforced at their upperand lower edges by the attachment of rods 48 by welding. By the use ofsuch grilles, rather than imperforate shields, the fluids are permittedto circulate much more freely and yet all of the discharge from thetubes through their ports 42 will impinge first on the rollers 24 beforebeing applied to the film undergoing treatment.

As will be noted in FIG. 1, the housing l is provided with a drain tube50 through which the treating fluid is withdrawn for recirculation orotherwise.

Whereas only one form of the invention has been described with referenceto the accompanying drawings, such variations as will be suggested tothose skilled in the art are contemplated as coming within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spray rack for photographic film processing apparatus comprising aframe defining a path of film movement, a pair of cylindrical filmengaging rollers journalled in said frame and having substantiallyparallel axes, a tube interposed between said rollers substantiallyparallel to said axes for delivering processing fluid to said rollers, aprocessing fluid inlet line in fluid communication with the interior ofsaid tube, said tube containing discharge ports having axes parallel tosaid film path and intersecting said rollers at an acute angle ofinclination relative thereto.

2. A spray rack according to claim 1 wherein multiple pairs of filmengaging rollers are journalled in said frame with axes lyingsubstantially in a plane, a tube is interposed between each pair of saidrollers substantially parallel to said axes for delivering processingfluid to said rollers, and each of said tubes contains discharge portshaving axes intersecting rollers adjacent thereto and inclined at acuteangles relative to said roller axes.

1 wherein said respectively.

6. A spray rack according to claim 1 wherein said port axes areparallel.

7. A spray rack according to claim 1 including means carried by saidframe for directing processing fluid from said tube to said rollers.

8. A spray rack according to claim 1 including grille means carried bysaid frame between said rollers and adjacent said tube for directingprocessing fluid from said tube to said rollers.

9. A spray rack according to claim 1 wherein a header carried by saidframe communicates with said tube.

10. A spray rack according to claim 1 wherein a header is carried bysaid frame to supply processing fluid to said tube, and a polarizingjoint is provided between said header and tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,016 6/1939 Howell -942,248,056 7/1941 Blaney 95-94 2,332,346 10/1943 Rowlandson 68-46 XR2,913,974 11/1959 Sabel et al 95-94 3,344,729 10/ 1967 Kitrosser 95-893,382,790 5/1968 Matheson 95-94 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner FRED L.BRAUN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 118-419

